Utica Hotel Employees Help Save Autistic Girl After Near Drowning

Two employees helped administer CPR to a 12-year-old autistic girl who nearly drowned at the hotel’s pool Saturday morning.

 The Utica police said that when the employees, Jamila Waale and Lulzim Caraj, answered the parents' call for help just after 9 a.m. Saturday, the girl was not breathing.

The child regained consciousness after the two employees performed CPR, according to a police report.

Police said the girl’s mother was in the pool only 10 feet away watching the girl practice holding her breath underwater in the 4-foot section of the pool.

After nearly 20 seconds, the girl’s mother noticed she did not surface and called her husband, who was also in the pool area.

The parents immediately pulled the child out of the water, but she was unconscious and not breathing, police said.

The girl’s father stayed with her and attempted to revive her as the mother ran for help.

After the girl regained consciousness, she was transported via ambulance to Henry Ford Hospital.

The girl and her parents were in town from Illinois.

“As soon as I first heard about it, I was very panicked but I am very proud of the employees willingness to jump in at a moments notice and not think twice about trying to save a person’s live,” said Hyatt Place Detroit Utica General Manager Ted Nicodemus.

Nicodemus said both employees had CPR certification that they recieved on their own. The hotel chain is looking into mandatory CPR certification for all employees.

Hyatt is planning on recognizing the two employees for their heroic acts, said Nicodemus.